Refrigeration compressor



y 1936. E. F. HOLYFIELD 2,039,999

REFRIGERATION COMPRESSOR Filed Feb. 4, 1935 Earl fiijog ezd INVENTOR WITNESS I ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEFRIGERAZ:ZZ :?OMP B;ESSOR H Earl Holyflelii, Stillwater, Okla. v Application February 4, 1935, Serial No. 4,955

3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration systems and more particularly to compressors therefor, and has for the primary object the provision of a heat actuated compressor for acting on the refrigerant to transfer the latter from the evaporator to the condenser of the system under' a desired pressure and which will be eflicient in operation.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a system wherein multiple compressors are employed and so connected that the expansion and driving agent of one compressor may also act to operate the other compressor.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain. novel features of construction, combination and arrangemeniref parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing compressors constructed in accordance with my invention, and connected to a refrigeration system.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating one of the compressors.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a control mechanism between the compressors for regulating the fuel to the burner.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numerals l and 2 indicate compressors connected to refrigeration systems "for the purpose of transferring refrigerants from the evaporators to the condensers of said systems. The only difference between the systems andcompressors is that the system having the compressor l employs a refrigerant of a higher condensing'pressure than that employed in the system to which the compressor 2 is connected. The compressors l and 2 may be similarly constructed and by reference to Figure 1 it will be noted that the compressor l is associated with a heat source preferably in the form of a burner 3 supplied with a gaseous fuel by way of a pipe 4 having a control valve 5, the latter being opened and closed through a mechanism 6 which will behereinafter more fully described. Any type of ignition 'means, such as apilot burner, may be provided for lighting the burner 3 and forms no part of the present invention.

The compressors l and 2 each include an outer shell or housing 1 of substantially spherical shape providedwith a. heat outlet pipe 8 at its upper side and its-lower or'opposite side is provided with a flame chamber 9. The chamber 9 of the compressor I is disposed above and in close prox-' imity to the burner 3.

Refrigerant chambers in of spherical shape are located in and spaced from the housings l of the compressors I and 2. The chambers l0 are of sectional formation and are divided by diaphragms ll each of cup-shape capable of moving from the lower portions of the chambers to the upper portions. The chambers in of the compressorsl and 2 have connected thereto pipes l2 and I3 which extend through the housings I. and are connected to check valves I4 and I5, said valves l4 and i5 being connected to evaporators and condensers of refrigeration systems (not shown). The valves l4 operate in an opposite direction to the valves l5 and the pipes l2 and l3 communicate with the chambers at the upper ed to .a pipe !9 communicative with a sump 20 forminga part of the chamber ll] of the compressor 2 and in communication portion of said last-named chamber. A check valve I1 is located in the pipe l9 and opens in the direction of the coil H. A float control valve 2| operates in the sump for regulating the flow of liquid or fluid from the chamber III of the com- 35 pressor 2 to the pipe Hi. When the sump contains a certain 'amount of liquid the valve 2| opens admitting the liquid to the coil H.

In communication with the lower portions of the chambers ll! of the compressors l and 2 are pipes 22 connected to the mechanism 6 which includes a housing 23 having therein a diaphragm 24 connected with a valve 25 operating in conjunction with a valve seat 26, the latter and the valve 25 acting to open and close the pipes 22 to one another. A stem 21 is connected to the valve 25 and to the valve 5; The diaphragm 24 works against the tension of a spring 28 in one direction and said spring may have its tension varied through the'manipulation of an adjusting medium 29 carried by the housing 23.

In operation, the tension on the valve 25 is adjusted to withstand a predetermined pressure, which pressure is sufficient to move the diawith the lower 30 phragm H of the compressor I from the lower portion of the chamber III to the upper portion of the chamber Ill. The pressure is developedphragm of the condenser vI reaches its uppermost perature.

position-to expel substantially all of the refrigerant therefrom, the pressure is suillcient to unseat the valve 25 admitting said pressure to the lower portion of the chamber I of the compressor 2 acting to move the diaphragm thereof from its lowermost position to its uppermost position expelling the refrigerant therefrom to the condenser of the other refrigerant system. As the valve 25 unseats it closes the valve 5 discontinuing the supply of gaseoiis fuel to the burner I, consequently relieving the compressor I of heat and which will permit the liquid to condense and return to the coil I'I. The vaporized liquid in the compressor 2 also condenses and passes to the sump 20 and thence to the coil when suflicient liquid has accumulated in said sump to unseat the valve 2|.

Connected to the stem 21 of the valve 25 is a thermostat 25 lying in the path of the vapor passing from the compressor I to the compressor 2, said vapor being substantially at steam tem- The thermostat when expanded by the vapor holds the valve 25 disengaged from its seatto permit compressor I to exhaust the vapor therein to the compressor 2 before the valve 25 closes under the action of the spring 28. The diaphragm 24 besides being moved in one direction by the spring 28 to seat the valve 25, is also under condenser pressure of either of the refrigerating systems, the connection being made by the pipe- 26 so that varying pressure of the condenser will be taken care of. I

While I have specifically described companion compressors for operating companion refrigerant systems it is to be understood that the compressor TI may be employed by itself, or minus of the com- I pressor 2, as shown in Figure 2.

Further, it is to be understood that only a single refrigerant system is used ,when the compressor I is employed by itself. Any suitable type of ignition means may be employed for igniting the fuel from the burner.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A refrigeration compressor comprising -a housing, a refrigerant chamber arranged in said housing and forming therein a. heat chamber, a

controlled heating means for said heat chamber, Q a liquid in said chamber to be vaporized by heat,

and means mounted in said chamber for separating the liquid from the refrigerant and movable to admit and" expel the refrigerant from said .chamber by the vaporization and condensing of said liquid.

2. A refrigeration compressor comprising a housing, a refrigerant chamber arranged in said housing and forming therein a heat chamber, a controlled heating means for said heat chamher, a liquid in said chamber to be vaporized by heat, a cup-shaped diaphragm mounted in the chamber to separate the liquid from the refrigerant and movable from one side of said chamber to an opposite side by the condensing and evaporation of the liquid to admit and'expel the refrigerant from said chamber. I

3. A device of the character set forth comprising multiple heat aotuated'compre'ssors each including a housing, a refrigerant chamber in the housing, a diaphragm in the" chamber, a heating means for one of said chambers, a control valve for said heating means, a coil connected to said chambers and located adjacent the heatingmeans, liquid in the chambers and separated from the refrigerants in the chambers by the diaactuation of the diaphragm of said last-named chamber and connected to the valve of the heat;

ing means. v

EARL F. HOLYFIELD. 

